Hair-clipper.



No; 718,095; I PATEN TED JAN. 13, 1903.

H; GOATES. HAIR CLIPPER. APPLICATION 11.31) MAY, 6; 1900. mmonm}. s SHEETSSHEET 1.

PATENTED JAN. 13,1903.

G. H. COATES. HAIR CLIPPER. APP.-L10AT 10N FILED MAY 5, 1900.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

no MODEL.

No. 718,095. PATENTED JAN.413, 1903.

- G. COATES. I

HAIR CLIPPER. APPLICATION PI LED MAY 5, 1900. K0 MODEL. QSHEETB-SHEBT. 3.

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HAIR-CLIPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,095, dated January 13, 1903.

Application filed May'5,1900. Serial No. 15,613- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. CoATEs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Worcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hair-Clippers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same, in which Figure 1 represents a side view of a clipper embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom view. Fig. 3 is a bottom view with the lower or pressure plate removed. Fig. 4 is a bottom view with the lower or pressure plate and the stationary cutting-plate removed. Fig. 5 is a View of the under side of the head with the pressure-plate and both cutting-plates removed. Fig. 6 is a vertical central sectional view. Fig. 7 is a sectional view through one of the ball cases or holders and transversely thereto. Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the center of the ball cases or holders and longitudinally thereto. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a ball case or holder in which one of the friction-balls is contained. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lower or pressure plate, said section being taken on the plane of the clamping-bolt. Fig. 11 is a top View of one of the ball-tracks. Fig. 12 is a bottom view of the same; and Fig. 13 is a front View of the clipper, shown in vertical sectional view through the ball-bearings.

Similar reference-figures refer to similar parts in the difierent views.

My invention relates to that class of hairclippers which comprise a head provided with a fixed handle, stationary and movable cutting-plates, means for actuating the movable cutting-plate, and means for regulating the pressure between the cutting-plates; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts,as hereinafter described,and set forth in the annexed claims.

Referring tothe accompanying drawings, 1 denotes the head,provided atits rear side with a projecting tubular boss 1*, containing the journal-bearing of an actuating'shaft by which a reciprocating motion is imparted to the movable cutting-plate and having a forward extension 1 projecting over the cutting'plates.

2 represents the stationary cutting plate, formed in two parts 3 and 3 and provided on its front edge with cutting-teeth 4 in the usual manner.

5 denotes the movable cuttingplate formed between the stationary cuttingplate and forward extension 1 of the head and capable of a reciprocating motion by means of actuating mechanism, as hereinafter described.

Beneath the stationary cutting-plate 2 is a pressure-plate 6, having its front edge 6 bearing against the under side of the stationary cutting-plate at the rear of the teeth 4. The pressureplate 6 is preferably made in two parts 7 and S, which extend half way across the bottom of the clipper, with their abutting endsfmeeting in the center, and each half of the pressure-plate is connected by rivets 9 with an elastic plate 10, narrower than the pressure-plates 7 and 8 and provided with a projecting lug 11, resting in a recess 12 in a removable cap-piece 13, which forms a cover for the chamber 14 within the head 1 and con taining a mechanism for actuating the movable cutting-plate. A screw-threaded bolt 15, with its head 16 entering a recess 16 in the pressure-plates 7 and 8 and bearing against the plate 10, carries a nut 17, between which and the head 1 is placed a helical spring 18, so that by screwing the nut 17 upon the bolt 15 a yielding pressure is imparted to the plate 10, which draws, by means of the rivets 9, the plates 7 and 8 against the stationary cutting-plate. The pressure exerted by the clamping-bolt 15 is received by the stationary cutting-plate at the forward edges 6 of the sections 7 and 8 of the pressure-plate, and also by the cap or removable cover 13 by means of the central lug 11 on the rear edge of the plate 10, and the pulling strain exerted upon the plate 10 by the clamping-bolt 15 is communicated to the two sections 7 and 8 of the pressure-plates by means of the rivets 9. The plate 10 is an elastic plate capable of yielding at its central section and serves as a tie-plate between the sections 7 and 8, thereby equalizing the pressure between the sections 7 and S of the pressure-plate and the stationary cutting-plate 2.

The movable cutting-plate is given a reciprocating motion in the direction of its length by means of actuating mechanism, which consists of a shaft 19, journaled in the tubular boss 1 and provided at its outer end with a tenon 19, adapted to enter a socket in a flexible shaft by which rotary motion is imparted to the shaft 19 in the usual manner. The inner end of the shaft 19 is provided with a plate 20, carrying a crank-pin 21, engaging a movable bar 22, contained in a slot 23 in the block 24, which is capable of sliding upon a fixed rod 25, held in the head 1. The block 24 is provided on its forward side with a projecting lug or toe 26, containing a hole to re ceive the shank 27 of a square plate 28, which,

rests against the under surface of the toe 26 and enters a slot 23 in the rear edge of the movable cutting-plate 5. The toe 26 is cut apart on one side, thereby allowing the hole to be expanded to receive a shank slightly larger than the hole and be pinched by a screw 29. The block 24 is provided with a shoulder 29 in contact with one side of the plate 28, thereby holding the plate from turning in the toe 26. Whenever the sides of the plate 28 in contact with the movable cuttingplate become worn by use, the plate can be removed from the toe 26 and turned to bring its unworn sides into action.

The movable cutting-plate 5 is provided on its upper surface with two parallel bars 30 30, with their abutting ends meeting in the center of the plate, the position of the bars on the plate being indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 4. Each of the bars 30 is provided on its upper surface with a rib 32, having its upper surface slightly concave to form a track 33 for friction-balls. The under side of the bars 30 rest upon the upper surface of the movable cutting-plate, and they are held from longitudinal movement thereon by means of a short spur or stud 31, entering a hole 31 in the movable cutting plate. The forward edge of the head 1 is provided at its central section with an extension 34, having a groove 34, adapted to receive the ribs 32 on the bars 30, and upon opposite sides of the extension 34 are ball-carriers 35, pivoted to the head 1 by screws 36. The outer ends of the pivoted ball-carriers 35 project beyond the sides of the head l in order to increase the length of the ball-bearing surface without increasing the width of the head. Each of the ball-holders 35 is provided with a groove 37, adapted to receive the ribs 32 of the bars 30 and in alinement with the groove 34* in the extension 34 of'the head. By extending the track into a recess in the head I also protect the track against the admission of short hair as it is cutoff by the action of the cutting-plates. Each of the ball-holders is provided at its opposite ends with a circular recess to receive a ball case or holder 38, consisting of a short cylindrical piece open at its inner end and closed at its outer end 39. The ball case or holder 38 incloses a circular chamber 40, adapted to receive a ball 41 and allow it to roll freely in the case 38, its rolling motion being limited to the traversing movement of the reciprocating cutting-plate 5, by the inner wall of the recess in the ball-carrier 35, and by the closed end 39 of the ball-case. The ball case or holder 38 is cut open at its upper side at 42, corresponding to the groove 37 in the ball-holders, in order to allow the rib 32 to enter the ball-case and bring the track 33 in contact with the friction-balls 41. When the bars 30 are applied to the plate 5, they are capable of turning upon their studs 31, in order to bring the ribs 32 in alinement with each other and in alinement with the grooves 34 and 37, which form ways to control the reciprocating movement of the plate 5 in a straight line. Each of the ballcarriers 35 is provided with two ball-cases 38, one upon each side of the pivotal screw 36 and one ball is held in each ball-case. The ball-cases can be hardened to increase the wearing surface in contact with the friction-balls and they are held in place by being pressed tightly into the recesses or sockets in the ends of the ball-carriers. The spaces 40 containing the friction-balls are of sufficient diameter in cross-section to hold the balls and allow them to roll freely, and the Width of the slot or opening 42 corresponds to the width of the groove 37 and is slightly less than the diameter of the friction-balls, so that the ball-cases serve as ballretainers to hold the balls in place. The grooves-34 and 37 are deep enough to allow the track 33 to rest upon the friction-balls 41, so that when the movable cutting-plate 5 and bars 30 are placed in position the ribs 32 will rest upon the friction -balls 41, causing the pressure between the cutting-plates exerted by the clamping-bolt 15 and nut 17 to be received by the friction-balls 41, and as the ball-holders are capable of a rocking motion upon the screws 36 an equal pressure is maintained upon each of the balls and the distance between the bearing-surfaces of the balls is increased, owing to the extension of the ball-holders 35 beyond the sides of the head l The stationary cuttingplate although in effect a single piece and referred to as a stationary cutting plate 2 is preferably divided in the center, forming two halves 3 and 3 Each of the pieces 3 and 3" rests at its rear edge upon the head 1 and is provided with notches to receive the studs 43, which project from the under side of the head. When the stationary cutting-plate is placed in position, the chamber 14 is closed by the cover 13, Whose rear edge bears against a shoulder 44 on the under side of the head and whose forward edge 45 projects over the rear edge of the stationary cutting-plate and is provided with a shoulder 46, which bears against the rear edge of the stationary cutting-plate. The front projecting edge 45 is notched at each end of the cover 13 to receive the studs 43, so that the cover 13 is held from movement on the head. The cover 13 is clamped in position by the pressure of the lug 11 at the rear edge of the elastic plate IIO 10, which is clamped in position by the bolt 15 and nut 17. The stationary cuttingplate is provided near the base of its teeth 4 with a small rib 47, engaging a corresponding groove on the under side of the sections 7 and 8 of the pressure-plates, which serves to hold the plates 7 and 8 in alinement with the stationary cutting-plate. The stationary cutting-plate, if desired, can be made in more than two pieces, and the object of dividing the stationary cutting plate is threefold: First, by reducing the area of each section in contact with the movable cutting-plate a better contact is secured between the cutting edges of the teeth; second, the pieces are less liable to warp in tempering, and, third, the cost of repairing or replacing a section of the stationary plate is reduced.

The axis of the tubular boss 1 is placed at an acute angle with the plane of the lower or supporting pressure-plate 6, upon which the machine rests when in use, thereby bringing the axis of the rotating driving-shaft 19 at an acute angle to the plane of the lower supporting pressure-plate 6. The inclination of the driving-shaft l9 relatively to the plane of the supporting-plate 6 brings the plane of the sliding bar 22 at an oblique angle to the plane of the supporting-plate 6, thereby allowing a longer bearing-surface upon the sides of the bar, as it moves within the slot 23, without increasing the height of the head. The inclination of the bar 22 also allows the head 1 to be contracted in the direct-ion of its width for the reason that the lower edge of the sliding bar 22 is located at the rear of the pressureplate 6,while its upper edge is carried forward and over the edge of the pressure-plate. The

inclination of the tubular boss also allows the journal-bearing contained therein to be bored and reamed by a tool entering from the front side of the head without interfering with the forward extension of the head.

The ball-cases 38 are hardened to resist wear and the ball 41 is inserted in the open end of the case, and the case is then pushed into a socket or recess in the end of the holder 35 with sufficient tightness to prevent its working loose. The ball-holder 35 is detachable from the head 1, thereby allowing a recess or socket to be bored in each end,with an intervening space, so that each holder contains two balls and ball-cases, forming a double ball-race, thereby increasing the bearingpoints of the track 33 by the employment of four balls instead of two.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination with the head of the clipper, of studs projecting from said head, a stationary cutting-plate divided transversely into two or more parts, each part engaging one of said studs, a removable cover 13 overlapping said stationary cutting-plate and having a shoulder abutting against the edge of said stationary cutting-plate, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the head of a hairclipper, of a stationary cutting-plate divided transversely in two or more parts lying in the same plane, and having alongitudinal groove, a pressure-plate having one of its edges engaging said groove and means for drawing said pressure-plate against said divided stationary cutting plate, whereby its several parts are held in alinement, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the head of a hairclipper having a forward extension projecting over the cutting-plates and provided with recesses, of a pair of ball-holders pivoted to said head and projecting laterally beyond the sides of the head, and balls carried by said holders, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the head of a hairclipper provided with recesses to contain friction-balls, friction-balls held in said recesses, a groove extending across said head and communicating with said ball-recesses, a movable cutting-plate provided with a rib parallel with its line of motion and adapted to enter said groove and bear upon said friction-balls, means for reciprocating said movable cutting-plate, a stationary cutting-plate and means for clamping said movable cuttingplate between said stationary cutting-plate and said head, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the head of a hairclipper having a forward extension provided with a transverse groove, of a pair of ballholders pivoted to said head upon each side of said forward extension and projecting laterally beyond the sides of the head, and friction-balls carried in said ball-holders, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the head of a hairclipper, and movable and stationarycuttingplates, of ball-holders projecting laterally beyond the sides of the head and means for clamping said movable and stationary cuttingplates together, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the head of a hairclipper, of two or more longitudinal chambers for a friction-ball, a friction-ball held in said chambers, a longitudinal groove in said head communicating with the ball chambers, a movable cutting-plate having a rib entering said groove and coming in contact with the balls held in said chambers, substantially as described.

S. The combination with the head of a hairclipper, of two or more longitudinal chambers for friction'balls, friction-balls held in said chambers, a movable cutting-plate, a track for said friction-balls supported on said movable cutting-plate, said head being recessed to receive said ball-track, whereby said track is protected against the admission of hair, substantially as described.

9. The combination of a head 1, movable cutting-plate 5, stationary cutting-plate 2, pressure-plate 6, upon which the machine is supportedwhen in use, mechanism for actuating said movable cutting-plate, comprising a shaft journaled in the head 1, with its axis at an angle with the pressure plate 6, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a head, stationary and movable cutting-plates of a hair-clipper, of a pressure-plate formed in sections with the front edges of each section bearing against the under side of the stationary cutting-plate, an elastic plate riveted to and uniting the sections on said pressure plate and provided with a fixed bearing at its rear edge and a clamping-bo1t by which said elastic plate is drawn toward the head of the clipper, substantially as described.

11. The combination With the stationary cutting-plate, the head of a hair-clipper provided with a chamber and having a shoulder 44: on its under surface, of a movable cover bearing against said shoulder and having its edge overlapping said stationary cuttingplate, substantially as described.

12. The combination with the stationary cutting-plate and the head of a hair-clipper provided with a chamber, of a removable cover resting against said head and overlapping said stationary cutting-plate, a pressureplate bearingagainst said stationary cuttingplate and against said cover and a clampingbolt by which said pressure-plate is drawn toward the head of the clipper and the cover thereby held in place, substantially as described.

13. In a hair-clipper, the combination with the head of the clipper provided with a socket, of a ball-case, open at one end and closed at its opposite end and held in said socket, substantially as described.

14. In a hair-clipper, the combination with a head provided with a socket, of a cylindrical ball-case having a groove on one side whose width is less than the diameter of the ball, whereby the ball is retained in the case, substantially as described.

15. In a hairclipper, the combination with a head, a movable and a stationary cuttingplate, of sockets, or recesses on opposite. sides ofsaid head and removable ball-cases held in said sockets, substantially as described.

16. In a hair-clipper, the combination with a head, of ball-holders detachably connected with said head and having sockets, or recesses in their opposite ends and ball-cases held in said sockets, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 26th day of April, 1900.

GEORGE H. OOATES.

\Vitnesses:

RUFUS B. FOWLER, Ava T. MURPHY. 

